For the past 19 years, I have spent my summers on the baseball diamond umpiring. I have umpired everything from little league to college. I have attended the Harry Wendelstedt umpire school twice. This blog will be a combination of stories and lessons I have learned along the way.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

It's Almost Time Baby!!!

You know, I hate the winter. The snow, the cold and this winter...THE ICE but there is one thing that helps me get through the winter, and that's knowing that baseball is right around the corner. Next week, my associations young umpires will report to our annual training sessions. This is the mark of the beginning of the end of this harsh cold. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. Baseball is coming, and it's coming soon.

This summer will mark the 21st summer I have been an umpire. A lot has changed since I was a scared little 12 year old strapping on the gear for the first time but, in many ways, many things have stayed exactly the same.

In my 21 years, I have worked just about every level of baseball you can work. I have done little league, high school, college and this past summer, I worked my first pro games in the Frontier League. I am not a perfect umpire. If I was, I would be able to make a living out of it. But I am a good umpire who works as hard as he possibly can to call a fair game.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to post my tips to the young umpire. I have posted them before but I believe that these are all extrememly important so I am going to do it again. I am also hoping to be able to put some video up this year so I can better explain positioning and situations. For those of you that read my blog...thank you, I am honored that you take the time to read it and please spread the word.

Ok, I think that about covers it for today. Until next time, remember that ties are outs and the black is NOT part of the plate......PLAY BALL!!!!!